Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital Also Actively Participates
Gyeongbuk National University Hospital (left) and Chilgok Gyeongbuk National University Hospital (right), along with eight other national university hospitals, agreed on the 16th to secure additional beds for treating severe COVID-19 patients.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Trainee Reporter Lee Seryeong] Kyungpook National University Hospital has decided to provide additional beds for severe patients as the COVID-19 situation develops into a serious phase.
On the 16th, the National University Hospital Association convened an emergency meeting of the directors of national university hospitals and agreed to take emergency actions, including securing additional beds for severe patients.
Daegu Kyungpook National University Hospital and Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital also decided to participate in this effort.
The 10 national university hospitals in Korea currently operate a total of 1,021 COVID-19 treatment beds as of the 12th of this month, out of a total authorized bed capacity of 15,672.
There are about 470 beds for severe COVID-19 patients, treating nearly half of all critical patients.
The hospital directors predicted that given the current spread of COVID-19 infections and the increasing number of severe and critical patients, the beds secured through government administrative orders alone will soon reach their limit in patient treatment.
The association decided to secure about 200 additional beds for severe patients and held a meeting of planning and coordination directors from national university hospitals to establish specific implementation plans for each hospital.
The association expects that with the addition of about 200 beds, there will be some capacity to handle the nationwide critical patient treatment that has reached its limit. They plan to consult with relevant government departments to secure additional essential medical personnel such as doctors and nurses and to timely deploy equipment such as ventilators and ECMO devices.
Kim Yeonsu, the association chairman, said, “Despite difficulties such as managing emergency and critical patients currently hospitalized and securing and deploying additional medical and nursing staff, it is the natural duty of national university hospitals to respond promptly to this national disaster situation,” adding, “We will unite our efforts to overcome the current crisis.”
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